I.U.P.A. Distinguished Associate Award

SARASOTA, FL (September 21, 2016) – The International Union of Police Associations announced today that it has recently honored Mr. Edward M. Smith with the International Union of Police Associations’ Distinguished Associate Award. Mr. Smith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ullico Inc. since May of 2008. Prior to becoming President and CEO, Mr. Smith served as Ullico Inc.’s Executive Vice President from January 2007 until May 2008.Before joining Ullico, Mr. Smith had a long and distinguished career at the Laborers’ International Union of North America. After joining LIUNA at age 13, he was elected Business Manager of Laborer’s Local 773 at age 21. Smith later became International Union Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager serving over 58,000 members. He also served as Assistant to the General President.Smith formerly served as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, Chairman of the National Alliance for Fair Contracting, and a member of the Illinois Department of Labor Advisory Board. He has also been a key benefactor to the Therapy Center in Carterville, Illinois which provides free services for children with disabilities.Smith was the first member of the Laborers International Union (LIUNA) to graduate from the National Labor College with a bachelor’s degree. Smith went on to graduate from the Harvard University Trade Union Program. He is now an active board member for Laborers’ Charitable Foundation, Laborers CARE, Jobs with Justice, America’s Agenda-Healthcare for All, and serves as a trustee for the AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan.

The I.U.P.A. Distinguished Associate Award was established by the International Union of Police Associations. The honor has rarely been bestowed and is bequeathed only to those which have distinguished themselves as a true friend of law enforcement and of the Internationals. Mr. Smith personifies those principles which is why I.U.P.A. President Cabral and the I.U.P.A. Board of Directors endowed the International Union of Police Associations’ Distinguished Associate Award upon him. In presenting the award, President Cabral stated, “Today, we are recognizing and honoring Mr. Smith for his continued commitment to the International Union of Police Associations and everything that he has helped us to accomplish throughout the years. Mr. Smith and his entire team at Ullico have been by the International’s side in the good times and the bad times.”

Mr. Smith responded to receiving the award, “I am pleased and honored to accept the International Union of Police Associations’ Distinguished Associate Award. International Union of Police Associations and I have a long shared history in which we have worked diligently to better the lives and opportunities of union members. I look forward to many more years to come to dedicate to that purpose together.” Mr. Smith stated that he would place the award in Washington, D.C. where it will be displayed proudly at their headquarters.

NOTE:Originally chartered in 1979, the International Union of Police Associations is the only labor union that exclusively represents law enforcement personnel. The more than 100,000 law enforcement personnel (one out of every four eligible) represented by the I.U.P.A. are all full time employees of law enforcement agencies ranging from line officers up to first line supervisors as well as civilian employees. The I.U.P.A.’s mission is to protect and advance officers’ wages, benefits and work conditions. Membership includes officers from agencies throughout the United States and in the Caribbean. More information is available at www.iupa.org.

The Ullico, Inc. Mission is “our ability to serve America’s workers responsibly is what counts with the Ullico Family of Companies. This was true at the founding of The Union Labor Life Insurance Company in 1927 and remains true today for all subsidiaries and business lines. The products offered may change and grow to meet the dynamic needs of labor, but our commitment to working men and women is everlasting.” More information is available at https://www.ullico.com/.